Fly height calibration for read/write heads

1. A method of calibrating a fly height controller, the method comprising:

applying a heater signal to a heater element to heat a read/write head;

increasing a write current conducted through the head to further heat the head until the head contacts a data storage disk; and

calibrating the fly height controller based on at least a first level of the heater signal level and a first level of the write current when the head contacts the disk.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein calibrating the fly height controller comprises determining a read operation heater signal level, which is to be applied to the heater element to control fly height while the head is reading data from the disk, based on the first heater signal level and the first write current level.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the read operation heater signal level is determined based on a ratio of the first write current level to the first heater signal level.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

while the head is not being heated by the write current, increasing the heater signal until either a threshold level is reached or the head contacts the disk; and

when the head contacts the disk before the heater signal reaches the threshold level, calibrating the fly height controller based on a level of the heater signal when the head contacted the disk.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein, when the head does not contact the disk and the heater signal reaches the threshold level, applying a defined level of the heater signal to the heater element, and carrying out the increasing the write current and the calibrating the fly height controller based on at least a first heater signal level and a first level of the write current when the head contacts the disk.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein applying the heater signal at a defined level to the heater element comprises setting the heater signal to about a maximum operational level.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to the head contacting the disk, decreasing the heater signal by an amount that is sufficient to cause at least a threshold fly height between the head and the disk;

increasing the write current above the first write current level until the head contacts the disk a second time; and

determining a level of the heater signal and a level of the write current when the head contacts the disk the second time as a second heater signal level and a second write current level, respectively,

wherein the fly height controller is calibrated based on the first and second heater signal levels and the first and second write current levels.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the fly height controller is calibrated based on a ratio of a combination of the first and second write current levels to a combination of the first and second heater signal levels.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the fly height controller is calibrated based on a ratio of a difference between the first and second write current levels to a difference between the first and second heater signal levels.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein calibrating the fly height controller based on the first heater signal level and the first write current level comprises determining a read operation heater signal level, which is to be supplied to the heater element to control fly height while the head is reading data from the disk, based on the first and second heater signal levels and the first and write current levels.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the read operation heater signal level is determined based on a ratio of a combination of the first and write current levels to a combination of the first and second heater signal levels.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

repeating the applying a heater signal and the increasing a write current with the head positioned at a plurality of radial locations across the disk; and

calibrating the fly height controller based on a combination of the first heater signal level and the first write current level determined at each of the plurality of radial locations.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising calibrating the fly height controller based on an average of the first heater signal level and the first write current level determined at each of the plurality of radial locations.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fly height controller controls fly heights of a plurality of read/write heads relative to a plurality of data storage disks, the method further comprising:

repeating the applying a heater signal, the increasing a write current, and the calibrating a fly height controller for each of the plurality of heads.

15. A hardware circuit comprising:

a fly height controller that applies a heater signal to a heater element to heat a read/write head, that increase a write current conducted through the head to further heat the head until the head contacts a data storage disk, and that calibrates its control of head fly height based on at least a first level of the heater signal and a first level of the write current when the head contacts the disk.

16. The circuit of claim 15 , wherein the fly height controller determines a read operation heater signal level, which is to be applied to the heater element to control fly height while the head is reading data from the disk, based on the first heater signal level and the first write current level.

17. The circuit of claim 15 , wherein, while the head is not being heated by the write current, the fly height controller increases the heater signal until either a threshold level is reached or the head contacts the disk, and, when the head contacts the disk before the heater signal reaches a threshold level, the fly height controller calibrates its control of head fly height based on a level of the heater signal when the head contacted the disk.

18. The circuit of claim 17 , wherein, when the head does not contact the disk and the heater signal reaches the threshold level, the fly height controller applies a defined level of the heater signal to the heater element and carries out the increasing the write current and the calibration of its control of head fly height based on at least the first heater signal level and the first write current level.

19. The circuit of claim 15 , wherein the fly height controller responds to the head contacting the disk by decreasing the heater signal by an amount that is sufficient to cause at least a threshold fly height between the head and the disk, by increasing the write current above the first write current level until the head contacts the disk a second time, by determining a level of the heater signal and a level of the write current when the head contacts the disk the second time as a second heater signal level and a second write current level, respectively, and by calibrating its control of head fly height based on the first and second heater signal levels and the first and second write current levels.

20. A method of calibrating a fly height controller, the method comprising:

applying a first level of heater signal to a heater element to heat a read/write head;

increasing a write current conducted through the head to a first write current level that is sufficient to cause the head to contact a data storage disk;

in response to the head contacting the disk, decreasing the heater signal to a second level which is sufficient to cause at least a threshold fly height between the head and the disk;

increasing the write current above the first write current level to a second write current level that is sufficient to cause the head to again contact the disk; and

calibrating the fly height controller based on the first and second heater signal levels and the first and second write current levels.